More than three million Brits book flights abroad during the festive season

Over three million Brits will book flights abroad over the Christmas and New Year period, according to new figures from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

The findings reveal that the effects of the economic downturn have not had that great an affect on people's travel plans, with many people keen to escape the stress of work in order to spend more time with family or friends.

Commenting on the findings, Justin Fleming, ABTA's president, said that breaks during the festive season were considered "so much more than a luxury".

"They provide a valuable time to unwind and spend quality time with family," he said.

The weather appears to have helped this year, with more Brits having booked flights to ski resorts in Europe in order to take advantage of the early snow fall.

ABTA says that sunny destinations are proving the most popular - with extra flights from Manchester to Dubai and the Middle East proving especially popular, as well as traditional destinations Tenerife, Turkey and the Caribbean.

The association was established in 1950 and represents over 5,500 travel agencies and 900 tour operators.